People who talk about estate planning often talk about the probate process. Generally speaking, the probate process is one where a court appoints someone to administer an estate after an individual's passing. This representative is then responsible for paying estate...
trust & probate administration
Aretha Franklin’s estate serves as cautionary tale
When done correctly, estate planning is rarely news worthy. However, when an individual, especially someone with notoriety or a large estate passes away without implementing the proper protectionary measures, the issue can certainly be worth talking about. This is...
Estate planning in hopes of maintaining a legacy
As an estate planning law firm, we believe in the power of properly tending to one's assets so that they can be passed on in accordance with one's wishes upon death. However, even within the realm of estate planning, there are different strategies that can be...
Family conflict can implode an estate plan
We've spent a lot of time on this blog discussing some of the pitfalls that can land an estate plan in hot water. Concerns over competency, vague or ambiguous terms and even fraud can all draw the validity of an estate plan into question. Yet, those issues may not be...
Certain estate plan players can play pivotal role in outcome
At first glance you might think that estate planning is a simple process. After all, you only need to decide where your assets will go upon your passing, then devise legal documents indicating your wishes. This very basic assumption is correct to a certain extent, but...
Sun City firm helping realize estate planning goals
Our topic of discussion last week on the blog was conservatorships. Although these court-ordered arrangements can prove beneficial, they can leave some individuals feeling uneasy, and for good reason. Fortunately for these individuals, this issue can be completely...
What is a “conservatorship” in elder law?
Oftentimes the anxiety that comes with growing older stems from the uneasiness a person feels when thinking about nearing death or merely becoming less capable of doing the day-to-day activities that he or she enjoys. At its heart, estate planning seeks to reduce or...
Long-term care and how to pay for it
When Arizonans engage in estate planning, they often think about how best to protect their assets and ensure that their beneficiaries receive those assets upon the planner's death. In a nutshell, this is the heart of estate planning. However, there are many other...
Undue influence may affect Stan Lee’s estate plan
Arizona estate planning is not just for the wealthy. In fact, a competent estate plan can help people of all walks of life ensure that their physical, emotional and financial well-being, as well as the financial security of their loved ones, is as fully protected as...
Estate planning: how to avoid losing an estate
When done correctly, estate planning can help protect assets in a way that ensures that heirs and beneficiaries are able to retain as much of the estate's wealth as possible. This may mean utilizing wills and trusts to direct asset distribution upon death, but it may...